Steam-turbine.



narra STATES ramL JOHN F. METTEN, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNOR TO THE WM.

CRAM? & SONS SHIP & ENGINE BUILDING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

STEAM-TURBINE.

Patented Dec. `9, 1913.

Application filed February 19, 1909, Serial No. 478,820; Renewed November 9, 1912. Serial No. 730,493.

To all whom `it may concern.' Y

Be it known that I, JOHN F. METTEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Turbines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to steam turbines, and more particularly to improvements in the construction and mounting of the nozzles and diaphragme, whereby the nozzles may be removed without taking outl the rotor or diaphragms, and whereby the weight is reduced, and construction simplified.

Turbines as commonly constructed,.have a removable outer casing, but if it is desired to inspect orrenew the nozzles, it has been necessary to remove the rotor, and in some instances to disassemble the entire turbine. In orden to enable vthe nozzles to be readily removable, I propose to provide the nozzles in a ring capable of being removed by sections independently of the rotor and the diaphragme. As herein shown, the noz- '/.les are formed in a ring which is divided into sections, preferably disposed so as' to normally have their meeting edges along the circles and engages the diaphragm which separates adjacent rotors, and is itself carried in the casing in such manneras to prevent movement when in operative position, but permitting one portion to be removed through an opening in the casing, and the remainder to be slid around in the casing until it can be pulled out through the opening. In a modiiied construction the nozzle ring carries the stationary guide blading, which is also removable with the nozzle ring sections. This construction is advantageous in assembling of the turbine, as will be more fully pointed out.

A further feature of the invention relates to improved means for constructing and securing the daphragms, whereby the cost of building is reduced, weight is saved, and a and at its periphery a second reinforcing ring adapted to be engaged by the nozzle ring, which latter engages the casing. The

diaphragm plate is preferably of steel anderably composed of a single plate, having a widened blade carrying rim which overhangs the hub. The diaphragm nests partially within the overhanging rim of the rotor on one side near its periphery, and the centerof the diaphragm 1s adapted to nest within the overhanging hub of the rotor on the other side, without causing the rotors and diaphragm to strike each other. The aggregate saving in 'overall length ina turbine having aY number4 of` stages, or rotors and diaphragme, will be very considerable, it being seen that such a reduction in overall length does not reduce the power, but saves the extra weightl of shaft, casing, etc., otherwise necessary.

Further objects and'advantages will more fully appear in connection with the descriptionof the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a vertical half section of one of the stages of a turbine, Fig. 2 is a: transverse section of a turbine on theline 2 2 ot' Fig. .1, looking in the direction of an arrow, and Fig. 3 shows the modified nozzle ring construction.

l represents the casing of the turbine, 2 the shaft extending through the casing, 3, 3, rotors separated by a diaphragm 4. Each rotor 3 is built up of a hub 5, preferably a single intermediate plate 6, and an overhanging blade ring 7 having rows of blades 8 secured to its periphe and in between these rows of blades project the stationary guide blades 9 secured to the casing l or to the nozzle ring hereinafter described. By this` construction, the difficulty of obtaining special steel castings for the whole rotor is avoided, and a rigid compact construction is attained.

'lhe diaphragm comprises a preferably dished or concave steel plate 10, at the outer edge of which is secured a grooved steel ring.

11, while at the opposite side on the inner edge, of the plate 10 a steel gland ring 12 is secured thereto and carrying packing 13 bearing on the hubs of the rotors 3, 3. It will be seen that the rings 11 and 13 stien the disk or plate 10, thereby permitting it to be made considerably lighter without rendering it liable to distortion when subjected to pressure, and also that by dishing the plateandfastening the rings on opposite sides, they overlie one another and save space. The overhanging rim 7 of the rotor forms a recess 25 into which the diaphragm extends, see Fig. 1, and the edges of the plate 10, ring 11, and nozzle ring segments 19 may be beveled as at 26 for this purpose, so that the outer edge 27 of the diaphragm will'be nested Within and overhung by the adjacent edge of the blade ring rim 7 1n like manner the opposite side of the diaphragm at the center is adapted to be, and is shown as, overhung by, and nesting within the edge of the blade ring rim 7 of another rotor. 1t wil-lethus be seen ,that the distance between successive rotors can be materially reduced by .the diaphragm con struction herein described, with a resultant material decrease in the weight of the entire machine. This is a feature of importance vin marine turbines, and especially for war vessels where minimum displacement of propelling machinery is desired, in order to gain displacement for other uses, and to avoidv penalties for over Weights.

The diaphragm or the ring 11 secured thereto, is provided with a peripheral groove 16, and 4also the casing 1 has a groove "17e Mounted to slide between these-grooves and at the same time lockthe diaphragm against longitudinal movement is a nozzle ring 19,

' preferably of cast iron and containing nozzles 20 of any preferred configuration. s The nozzle ring segments may be secured to the casing by bolts 21, in order to resist the reaction of the flow through the nozzles.

.These bolts are exposed when the casing is lifted, the upper nozzle, section coming oil' with the casing, and the lower 011e being removable by sliding in the groove when the bolts are removed. As shown in Fig.- 2, the nozzle ring 19 is divided into halves, which, when one half of the casing is removed can be separated from between the casing and thediaplnagm independently of the rotor, one by simply heilig lifted, and the other by being slid. around the groove until it can likewise be lifted. lt will thus be seen that removing one section of the casing releases or unlocks one section of the nozzle ring, permitting its removal, and that f It will be understood that the ring may be divided into a large number of smaller segments if desired, and also that less than half of thecasing maybe removed if it is desired only to take out the nozzle ring. Furthermore, as le-ng as the nozzle ring is positioned in the grooves between the casing and the diaphragm, the latter is locked against displacement lengthwise of the shaft, and in removing the ring from between, the diaphragm may turn with the ring or be used to assist in pushing the ring out.

In Fig. 3, the nozzle ring sections 23 are vmade wider, and the grooves 7 in the casing correspondingly so, to contain an extension 24 of the ring having on its inner periphery slots in which the stationary guide blades 8. are carried. The ring sections may be bolted to the-casing in the same manner as before described. By this arrangement, besides providing for the removal ofthe guide blades, the blading grooves need not be cut in. the casing but can be made in the nozzle ring sections to better advantage.

From the foregoingdescription it will be seen that -I have provided a built up peripherally overhanging rotor incombination with a construction of nozzle ring removable independently of the rotor, and permitting the use of a reinforced plate diaphragm adapted to be locked'by the ring. By making the diaphragm of plate metal, considerable Weight is saved and cost of material, and by dishing it, the requisite stiffness is secured. The cost of making the rings and securing them so as to reinforce the diaphragm is less than that of making Ithe whole diaphragm of one or two pieces.

It will be understood that while a single diaphragm is shown and described herein, the invention contemplates the use of a num'- lber of diaphragms and nozzle rings similarly constructed, in connection with a suitable number of rotors, so that the aggregate saving in weightand cost and. increased compactness will be considerable.

Modifications in the arrangement and speciev construction of parts may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Having thusdescribed my invention, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. 'llhe combination in a turbine with a rotor, a casing having a removable segment, and adished' diaphragm having Aa packing around the axis of the rotor, of a separate nozzle carrying element, and means whereby the nozzle carrying element engages the casing and the diaphragm to lock the latter against longitudinal movement.

2. The combination with a turbine casing, a portion of which is removable, of a rotor therein, a diaphragm, and an element slidably removable from between the casing and the diaphragm and locking the diaphragm when in place.

3. The combination with a turbine casing, a portion of which is removable, of a rotor therein, a diaphragm, and a divided nozzle carrying ring -slidably and removably mounted between the casing and the diaphragm.

4. The combination with a turbine casing, a portion of which is removable, of a rotor, a diaphragm, and a nozzle carrying ring slidably' interlocking with both the casing and the diaphragm whereby the nozzle ring holds the diaphragm against displacement.

5. TheI combination with a turbine casing, a portion of which is removable, said casing having a groove around its inner surface, of a rotor, a diaphragm, and a segmental nozzle ring formed to slidably interlock with the diaphragm and the casing, whereby to hold the diaphragm in position and to be removable independently of the rotor or the diaphragm.

6. In a turbine, the combination with a casing having a removable section, a diaphragm and a rotor, of a segmental ring slidably interlocking the casing and the diaphragm whereby a segmentwithin the casing can be pushed around and removed through an open portion of lthe casing.

7. diaphragm for an elastic fluid turbine comprising a plate, a separate nozzle ring segment interlocking therewith on its perlphery, and a glandring secured to said plate at its interior edge.

8. A diaphragm for an elastic fluid turbine comprising a disk, a ring secured to its periphery, a separate nozzle ring segment interlocking therewith, and a gland ring secured to said plate at its interior edge, said plate being dished and the rings secured thereto being on opposite sides thereof.

9. A diaphragm for an elastic fluid turbine comprising an intermediate plate section, a nozzle ring support secured to the outer edge of said plate, a separable nozzle ring segilnent interlocking with the aforesaid ring, and a gland ring secured to said plate at the inner edge thereof.

l0. The combination with a divided casing, of a rotor, a continuous diaphragm between' the rotor shaft and the casing, and a removable nozzlering segment between the casing and the diaphragm, said ring being capable of removal without removing `the diaphragm.

11. The combination with a turbine casing having a removable segment, of a rotor therein, a segmental nozzle ring encircling the rotor, and means whereby the ring is held when the casing is closed, but can'be removed independently of the rotor when the casing is open.

12. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combination with a casing, 0f a shaft therein, and a diaphragm encircling said shaft, said casing being divided on a longitudinal plane through the shaft, a nozzle ring separable from the diaphragm andv separably fitted to the casing, and removable fastenings for securing the nozzle ring sections to the casing sections.

13. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combination with a casing, of a shaft therein, and a diaphragm encircling said shaft, said casing being divided on a longitudinal plane through the shaft, said diaphragm comprising a nozzle rin divided into a pliuality of segments and slidably interlocking with the casing and the diaphragm.

14. A diaphragm for an elastic fluid turbine comprising a plate, a ring secured to its periphery, and an inner ring secured to the middle portion of said plate.

l5. A diaphragm for an elastic fluid turbine comprising a plate, a ring secured to its periphery, and an inner ring secured to the middle portion of said plate, said rings overlying one another.

16. A diaphragm for an elastic fluid turbine comprising a dished plate, a ring secured to its periphery, and an inner ring secured to the middle portion of said plate.

17. A diaphragm for an elastic fluid turbine comprising a dished plate, a 'ring sef cured to its periphery, and an inner ring secured to the middle portion of said plate, said rings overlying one another. 18. A turbine comprising a sectional casing and a sectional nozzle ring havin one section fastened to and removable wlth a casing section, and another nozzle ring section slidably removable independently of the remainder of the casing and the diaphragm.

19. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combination with a sectional casing of a sectional nozzle ring, and means for securing one nozzle ring section to the casing so as to be removable therewith, the other nozzle section being removable independently of the. rotor and casing.

Q0. In a turbine, a casing, a built up diaphragm comprising a hub provided with a gland, a dished disk carried by said hub, and a blade carrying ring segment removably interposed between said disk and the casing.

2l. In a turbine, the combination with a rotor having an overhanging blade carrying rim, of a diaphragm .comprising a dished plate, a ring secured to its periphery, said diaphragm projecting within said overhanging rim, and an inner ring secured to the middle portion of the opposite side of said plate.

22. In a turbine, the combination with a plurality of separated platerotors each having an overhanging blade Carrying rim, of a diaphragm interposed between said rotors comprising a dished plate having a ring secured to its periphery, the diaphragm projecting Within the overhanging rim of one of said rotors, and an inner ring secured to the middle portion of the opposite side of said plate, the diaphragm being adapted to project Within the rim of said other rotor.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.v

h JOHN F. METTEN. Witnesses:

' lsAAo Amori?,

CHAS. W. WILLIAMS. 

